Live Niagara River Water Clarity

Niagara River water clarity · past 7 days and future 7 days

What the model calculates

The 0–100 score estimates muddiness, and visibility ranges are rough guides. As more fishing reports come in and I collect more data, I can calibrate the model and improve its accuracy.

What changes the score

• Wind and waves: Rough weather can stir up sediment in Lake Erie, which can later cloud the Niagara River. Southwest winds have the strongest effect, though other south and west winds can stir things up too. Longer-lasting wind and waves add more muddiness.
• Ice: A season with more ice can mean less sediment stirred up, clearer water and better fishing.
• Rainfall: Heavy rain can wash sediment into creeks and rivers, adding to muddiness. Wind and waves usually have a much bigger effect.

Clearing and the rating

The model assumes a 12-hour delay from lake stirring to the river. Past stirring fades along a decay curve fitted to real water reports. Reports from me and website users will help improve the model over time.

Clear: 0 to below 25 · Green: 25 to below 50 · Stained: 50 to below 75 · Muddy: 75 to 100.

For a Clear example, light wind at 10 km/h and waves at 0.3 metres add no new stirring. A low creek sediment estimate and enough time since the last blow then allow a score below 25. Calm weather alone does not erase an earlier storm.

For a Green example, the river is clearing after a blow, but some stirred-up sediment remains. The score has fallen into the 25 to below 50 range.

For a Stained example, a recent southwest blow has left more sediment in the river. The wind may have eased, but lingering sediment can keep the score between 50 and below 75.

For a Muddy example, a prolonged strong southwest blow and rough waves keep stirring up sediment. After the 12-hour delay, that sediment can push the river's score to 75 or higher.

Log what you saw

Every report is valuable, whether conditions are clear, muddy or somewhere in between. Your observations help improve the model over time.